The UFC Discussion and Prediction Topic

[pawel7777]

Some fresh news: Ortega Vs Lopes got moved to 155. Allegedly Ortega has really struggled to make the weight and couldn't go below 151, so the UFC contacted Lopes and said if he doesn't agree to fight in 155 the fight will be off:
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2024/06/ufc-303-weigh-ins-brian-ortega-diego-lopes-changed-lightweight-fight

I'm not sure what the implications will be (if any) in terms of the impact of the ranking, i.e. would Lopes move up in the featherweight ranks if he wins?
Also, this could be some unfair advantage to Ortega, as he didn't have to go through weight-cutting to the same degree as Lopes did. But I'm glad the fight is saved.

[notblox1]

The main event looks promising but, as mentioned previously, I don't expect Jiri to win the belt back. But this is MMA, so anything is possible.
I find Garry insufferable so wouldn't mind seeing him getting KO'd. Page is probably technically better, but we already know oddsmakers tend to favour younger fighters.

Prochazka has wild fighting style and you cant prepare for him like for most other fighters, that is why I think he has a decent chance in this fight.
If Pereira survives first few rounds and damages calf and legs of Prochazka than he is going to win.
I watched Prochazka against Rakic and he was losing most of that fight until Rakic fall into his trap.

[electronicash]

The main event looks promising but, as mentioned previously, I don't expect Jiri to win the belt back. But this is MMA, so anything is possible.
I find Garry insufferable so wouldn't mind seeing him getting KO'd. Page is probably technically better, but we already know oddsmakers tend to favour younger fighters.

Prochazka has wild fighting style and you cant prepare for him like for most other fighters, that is why I think he has a decent chance in this fight.
If Pereira survives first few rounds and damages calf and legs of Prochazka than he is going to win.
I watched Prochazka against Rakic and he was losing most of that fight until Rakic fall into his trap.

he tried the ground game in their first fight and almost work since he landing big elbow to Pereira. if it weren't for the counter that dropped Jiri he wouldn't receive those massive elbows that eventually knock him out. Jiri would have won that fight if he was just consistent with this fake takedowns and throwing the overhead. maybe it will work this time.

but Pereira would probably have his own strategy as well since they already figured each other. Poatan knows his leg kicks will be Jiris terrible weakness. i think we can see more of those leg kicks again from r1 to the r3 if the fight goes the distance.

[Zed0X]

So what happened exactly? Ortega couldn't make 145 and requested to fight at 155, Lopes accepted the new weight and then suddenly Ortega pulled out because of illness. Then Ige stepped in on 3 hours notice to fight Lopes? That's crazy! I give respect to both guys.

Edit: I didn't see that kick coming but maybe that's because I got used to seeing his left do the job.

[pawel7777]

I called it, didn't I?
I knew Jiri's low hands would get him in big trouble in this one. There are fighters you can fight against with your hands low, and there are fighters you can't. Pereira is in the 2nd category.
I feel sorry for Jiri and don't want to be too harsh to him, but he was not properly prepared. He looked chaotic and there was no sign of any game plan. Even when it comes to that knock-out kick, he did see it coming but tried to block it in a very odd way, as in he fought it was a body kick and tried to catch Pereira's leg. That's a rookie mistake, but it's possible he was still dazed after that knock-down at the end of round one.

[electronicash]

I called it, didn't I?
I knew Jiri's low hands would get him in big trouble in this one. There are fighters you can fight against with your hands low, and there are fighters you can't. Pereira is in the 2nd category.
I feel sorry for Jiri and don't want to be too harsh to him, but he was not properly prepared. He looked chaotic and there was no sign of any game plan. Even when it comes to that knock-out kick, he did see it coming but tried to block it in a very odd way, as in he fought it was a body kick and tried to catch Pereira's leg. That's a rookie mistake, but it's possible he was still dazed after that knock-down at the end of round one.

Jiris team been telling him about his hands. but even so Jiri would still have the better chance of winning if take down Pereira. it always just as an attempt. to me it doesn't matter that he gets hit before he could cringe, he is big and can easily recover. as long as he could grab Pereira and bring him down, then tables are turned.  anyway he didn't do it and result is not good. The first knock down in the last second of first round was just as powerful as head kick. it rocked Jiri and he was fired up and got careless.

Garry vs Page which i think will also end in KO never happen. Garry executed his plan in grabbing Venom Page to almost submit the elusive Page.

[notblox1]

I called it, didn't I?
I knew Jiri's low hands would get him in big trouble in this one.

Hands high would not save Prochazka from this situation, if Pereira landed this kick on his hand he would probably break it or make serious damage.
I dont think trilogy is needed between this two fighters, Pereira proved he is better and now UFC needs to find next fighter for him.
Potentially next fighters for Pereira could be Ankalaev, Hill, Błachowicz, Rakic or maybe they create another super fight with Dricus De Plessis.

[electronicash]

if i were to put myself in pereira position, i would be going to HW and make lots of money to retire after 2 fights.  maybe fighting cyril gane, aspinall and jones if possible. he is already in the age where he could be declining. but he best retire winning a belt than having a series or losses.

ankalev is very tempting since he is a top contender in this division. maybe 3 more fights including ankalev will be last for pereira. unless izzy proposes a trilogy which i think alex will likely go back to MW for such fight.

[pawel7777]

Jiris team been telling him about his hands. but even so Jiri would still have the better chance of winning if take down Pereira. (..)

Except Jiri is not the best in takedowns and Pereira is pretty good in avoiding them. But who knows, maybe it was his plan for later rounds, when Alex feels too comfortable and gets a bit reckless.
It's possible that Jiri failed to prepare himself mentally. It's not easy after losing to the same guy by TKO not that long ago. Jan Blachowicz said he knew Prochazka would lose after he saw him smiling at Pereira before the fight, something he would never do in his previous fights. A little detail like that can be very telling.

Hands high would not save Prochazka from this situation, if Pereira landed this kick on his hand he would probably break it or make serious damage.
I dont think trilogy is needed between this two fighters, Pereira proved he is better and now UFC needs to find next fighter for him.
Potentially next fighters for Pereira could be Ankalaev, Hill, Błachowicz, Rakic or maybe they create another super fight with Dricus De Plessis.

Nah, if he blocked it properly he would be fine.
I think Ankalaev is next, 99%. Pereira said he's willing to fight him, and Dana seemed to be OK with that. Du Plessis is fighting Adesanya next. If DPP was to win, then who knows, maybe him moving up to face Pereira would be a possibility, but I don't see it. I think we're much more likely to see Adesanya Vs Pereira 3 in the light heavyweight. It's a fight that makes sense. It doesn't even matter if Adesanya wins against DPP or not.
As for Ige Vs Lopes, they're both ranked 13th and 14th respectively, I don't think the ranking has yet been updated after the event, so they'll probably switch places. Career-wise, accepting that fight was a great move for both of them, Dana White sang some praises for them both in the post-fight conference and said he'll do anything for them. So likely both of them will get a chance to face higher-ranked opponents in their next fights.

[LogitechMouse]

I called it, didn't I?
I knew Jiri's low hands would get him in big trouble in this one.

Hands high would not save Prochazka from this situation, if Pereira landed this kick on his hand he would probably break it or make serious damage.
I dont think trilogy is needed between this two fighters, Pereira proved he is better and now UFC needs to find next fighter for him.
Potentially next fighters for Pereira could be Ankalaev, Hill, Błachowicz, Rakic or maybe they create another super fight with Dricus De Plessis.

I think so because I believe that the left hook that he absorbed at the final seconds of the 1st round still affected him at the start of the 2nd round causing him to drop immediately by just a single kick. Even though he blocked it with his hands, he might still get affected and drop down.

Just look at him after the stoppage. He's still wobbling even though Herb Dean stopped it for more than 30 seconds already. That just shows how powerful Pereira is at his current division. Trilogy? I also don't think it will happen as well because he defeated Jiri 2 straight times already. He will either wait for another opponent at Light Heavyweight or he might go up to Heavyweight and make a history as the first 3-division champion.

[Zed0X]

On the speculation of a Pereira vs. Adesanya trilogy at MW, I don't think that's going to happen. After he lost at their second UFC bout, Pereira said he's unlikely to go back to MW because it has taken a toll on his body. It's up to Adesanya if he wants to settle it at LHW.

[electronicash]

On the speculation of a Pereira vs. Adesanya trilogy at MW, I don't think that's going to happen. After he lost at their second UFC bout, Pereira said he's unlikely to go back to MW because it has taken a toll on his body. It's up to Adesanya if he wants to settle it at LHW.

Izzy going up on LW will slow him down. he will have no chance to win, he felt it when he fought Blachovich while Poatan seem to be build of HW.  Izzy is salty because his record is already surpassed by his usual rival from kickboxing. he literally is the one who brought Pereira in UFC and then in short period of time surpassed his record in the P4p rank.

Next Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez.



nothing burger fight card but nothing you can do about it. 

[pawel7777]

(...)
Just look at him after the stoppage. He's still wobbling even though Herb Dean stopped it for more than 30 seconds already. (...)

Recovery from knock-down can take quite a long time, that's why I suspect Prochazka was still dazed in the 2nd round. That left kick was not even set up, it was telegraphed, he did see it coming, but he failed to block it in a proper way.
Sometimes you can hear stories about fighters getting KO/TKO, getting up, looking normal and even giving post-fight interviews, and then they would not remember any of that.

[notblox1]

Nah, if he blocked it properly he would be fine.
I think Ankalaev is next, 99%. Pereira said he's willing to fight him, and Dana seemed to be OK with that.

You can see what happens with legs and calves when they are kicked by fighter and arms are not as strong as legs
But that fight is now finished and Prochzka hype is over, now Dana needs to find someone else.
I think Ankalaev fighting style can be a problem for Pereira but maybe he is not that attractive for UFC and Dana White money machine.

[electronicash]

Nah, if he blocked it properly he would be fine.
I think Ankalaev is next, 99%. Pereira said he's willing to fight him, and Dana seemed to be OK with that.

You can see what happens with legs and calves when they are kicked by fighter and arms are not as strong as legs
But that fight is now finished and Prochzka hype is over, now Dana needs to find someone else.
I think Ankalaev fighting style can be a problem for Pereira but maybe he is not that attractive for UFC and Dana White money machine.

that's a factor they will consider since Ankalev is not something they can sell. but maybe in Saudi soil if they add some profitable fights in the cards such as Khamzat and some big names. but if they match Pereira vs Alexander Volkov or probably Ciryl Gane, it will be a better event for Pereira's debut in HW than fighting Ankalev.

afaik Pereira already said he wants to go to HW which it would make sense fighting huge guys for huge money. and I think Dana would like this since Pereira has become one of the biggest fighter in UFC already. maybe even the face of UFC as for now.